Improvement in swarm-boxes



A.HARB1soN.

SWARMjBOX.

Patented Fe'b.1,1876.

l l I l l I l l l l l 1 i Il N.PE|'EHS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTONy DA C. Y

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW HARBISON, OF NEWCASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SWARM-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 173,002, dated February 1, 1876; application led october 29, 18:5.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that' I, ANDREW HARRISON,

The object of this invention is to catch' swarms ot' bees as they issue from the parent hive, and keep them contined until at leisure to introduce them into new habitations, thereby saving much time of the attendant, risk ot' several swarms mingling together, and the consequent destruction of their queens, as Well as'the danger of leaving for the woods.

Figure l is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The swarm box or catcher is constructed of thin light lumber, except the top A, which should be of No. l0 wil'ecloth, or its equivalent. 4The size and shape may be varied. I recommend them to be made thirty inches lion g, thirteen inches wide, `and fourteeninches eep.

The place of ingress is arranged in one end, in such a manner as to embrace the passa-geway of the hive from which the swarm is to be caught, being placed in position by the attendant immediately on' discovering the commencement ot' swarming. l

The swarm is caused to pass through a tube or entranceway,-B extending inward and upward, at an angle ot' about Vforty-five degrees, to a distance ot' eight inches, the bottom ofthe tubebeing of wood, attached to the bottom ofthe box the entire width, but tapering to a width ot' nine inches, or so that a space, K, of two inches is left at each side at its terminus. The sides of the tube are made of wire-cloth or suitable material, rising to the height of four inches, the cloth forming three Vsides of the tube or passage-way.

The upper side is an adjustable door or lid', C, working on pivots, so as to open or close, or set to give any desired' space t'or the swarm to emerge into the box. The edges around this tube are armed with wire pickets F, the

upper course ou the adjustable door or lid being longer than the lower or stationary one. Both courses'are curved downward. 'Ihe object is to prevent the bees from again returning to the parent hive, as they cannot successfully pass over the wire pickets.

The wire top A may be either nailed on or made movable. The advantage of having it movable is to make it practical to hive a swarm temporarily into the box or catcher from a tree, or any other place where a swarm may alight, in cases where the swarm is out on the wing before being discovered. It can then be carried to the apiary and relieved in the usual way, which will be found much easier than to carry a heavy hive.

On the sides, in the interior, there are one or more ledges, 1), or shelves, on each side, for the swarm to cluster omas a support is ynecessary when a swarm is to remain in the box for some time before hiving.

It is found that, vby leaving the swarm in the box or catcher for one-halt' hour or more,

the presence of a queen can be determined. with certainty. If all right, the bees cluster quietly on the ledges; if not, the bees will be in confusion. j

At the outer end of the box there is a slipdoor, E, held in place by a button. When the l swarm is to be removed this door is to be taken off and the bees shakenout.

v There is a staple attached to the button,v

into which the support G isv held in place v ANDREW HARBISQN.

i Witnesses: l GEO. W. VEAcH, J oHN BLEvINs. 

